Graft and corruption, fine, but what about the economy?

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II

MANILA, Philippines—Days before President Benigno Aquino III makes his third State of the Nation Address, House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II expressed hope the chief executive would tackle issues most sought after by the public.

He said that after two years of the President’s “daang matuwid” (righteous path) campaign, the public was likely to appreciate if this year’s SONA would touch on issues which Gonzales described to be “malapit sa tiyan ng mamamayan.”

“Basically, on the economic provisions. Ito ang hinihintay ng mga tao. Ano na ang direksyon sa ekonomiya (ngayong) napatunayan na ang direksyon sa graft and corruption? (This is what the people is waiting for. What is the direction of the economy now that the government has proved its agenda in curing graft and corruption),” the lawmaker said.

Gonzales said that the Filipinos are expecting a “clearer road map, considering that (Aquino) has four years to go.”